Sony announces a UMD exchange program in Japan that offers digital versions for a fee.

It’s a solution to give PlayStation Portable owners, at least in Japan for the time being, an option to play their catalog of UMD-based games on the PlayStation Vita. Not the most wishful of solutions honestly, but it’s one none the less (yes I’m trying to put a positive spin on this — deal with it.)

The “solution” I’m oh-so alluding to friends is the newly announced UMD Passport program – an interesting initiative which gives the aforementioned opportunity by redeeming those physical software copies for digital versions through a free downloadable application available December 6th. Well actually… to clarify, you don’t automatically get every UMD game registered through the app, but rather a discount on repurchases of those same games through the PlayStation Store.

Head scratching, I know. Let me put it as simple as possible, say you have PSP Game A in UMD form that you really really want to play on your shiny new Vita handheld (oh hey, a Vita bundle). Simply just download the app on your PSP, register the game in question via Wi-Fi, and in exchange you’ll get a discount to spend on the digital counterpart that after being mark downed will fetch about $6 to $13 each, although some might catch a higher fee *cough* Square Enix’ RGPs *cough*.

Remember, the UMD Passport Program is Japan-only for now (hopefully a North American & European role out of it is in the works) and as for the list of games that will be compatible under it just look below — along with publishers who plan on supporting the program too. Mind you that this is just an initial games list and Sony hopes to make the system compatible with roughly 200 titles later on.